Sponsored
Engadget News |
- Intellectual Ventures' Nathan Mhyrvold defends patent trolling, calls tech industry immature
- Canadian carriers put Galaxy S III launch on June 20th, back dual-core 1.5GHz chip for LTE models
- ZTE teases 6.2mm-thick 'Athena,' crams in 720p IPS display and Cortex-A15 chip
- Lenovo LePhone K800 launches, officially brings Medfield to China
- Google Chromebooks bring the cloud to the plane with 12 free Gogo sessions
- Logitech outs Apple-friendly Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, we go hands-on
- Zynga CEO Mark Pincus says 'no thanks' to console gaming, isn't worried about a life detached from Facebook
- ICANN stops taking custom domain names at 7PM ET, details the TLD explosion June 13th
- Leica Monochrom test turns up the ISO, doesn't bring the noise
- Infinitec returns with Android 4.0-based HDMI dongle, Kickstarts the Pocket TV
- HP names Bill Veghte new COO, hands over the keys to HP Software
- Verizon doubles FiOS speeds to 300Mbps, thumb-twiddling waits are officially over
- Microsoft's Photosynth app lets (some) Windows Phone users in on the panorama craze
- Google offers unified profiles, begins merging Orkut with Google+
- Olympus to settle with ex-chief exec over misconduct, may involve mountains of cash
- Google+ Local sees reviews from friends, Zagat invade your restaurant hunts (video)
- Motorola: a brief history
- Flipboard beta coming to all Android devices soon, hopes to handle resolution variety with poise
- Nokia Lumia 610 launches in the UK, starts on £15 per month contracts
- Creative announces Sound BlasterAxx wireless speakers with mics (update: hands-on!)
- Razer outs Battlefield 3 aviator headsets
- Remote-controlled Aquabotix HydroView takes underwater HD video, Mrs. Puff calls insurance agent
- Mind-reading robotic teachers are more... Anyone? Anyone? Attention-grabbing
- LoveFilm signs multi-year digital deal with NBCUniversal, looks Kick Ass
- Apple Store now selling Nest Thermostat: automated toastiness to cost $250
- Archos Arnova 80 Cobalt sidles up to the FCC, leaves little to the imagination
- Huawei hotspot supports 110Mbps downstream on Softbank's 4G network
- Batman Nokia Lumia 900 priced at £600, throws in some free movie tickets
- Facebook allowed to triple size of its HQ, pays $10 million for the privilege
- Project Glass revealed to have physical trackpad along right arm (video)
- Google Nexus tablet appears in benchmarks, appears to run on quad-core Tegra 3
- Sony announces Xperia Go and Xperia acro S: waterproof and dual-core (video)
- BlackBerry Curve 9310 / 9320 turns up at FCC, fails to keep a low profile
- BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 beta due soon?
- PSA: Samsung's Galaxy S III is out in the UK today!
- Customs stops delaying HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE devices after 'review'
- Open source mini sub appeals to our inner Steve Zissou
- ASUS MeMO 370T 7-inch tablet clears the FCC, leaves no trace of Ice Cream or Jelly behind
- Insert Coin: ZIP-Shooter lets you dolly around or track straight (video)
- Oh, the places you'll go... with this shoulder-mounted telepresence robot (video)
| Intellectual Ventures' Nathan Mhyrvold defends patent trolling, calls tech industry immature Posted: 30 May 2012 11:33 AM PDT Intellectual Ventures' CEO and founder Nathan Mhyrvold, who previously spent some 14 years at Microsoft Research, took the stage here at D10, and as predicted, his interview with Walt Mossberg was quite the invigorating one. You may know the man and his company for its vicious patent trolling -- or, what appears to be patent trolling. In essence, a lot of its business comes from acquiring patent portfolios, and then licensing and / or suing companies to "enforce" them. Naturally, Nathan has a radically different perspective than most sane individuals on the matter, insisting that the system isn't necessarily broken, and that "making money from enforcing patents is no more wrong than investing in preferred stock." The talk centered predominantly around how Intellectual Ventures operates, what it does, and if its CEO feels that the "rat's nest of lawsuits" -- as Walt put it -- was getting out of control. Despite saying that his company has hundreds of people working on new inventions to help deliver medicines in Africa (in response to a question from the crowd on whether his outfit was truly helping people), he confessed that suing to enforce patents was simply another method of capitalism working. Care to take a ride on the crazy train? Head on past the break for a few choice quotes from the interview. In response to Walt's probing about what Nathan's company does, Nathan stated: "We like to say invention capital. Our goal is to invest in invention. We file patents ourselves on our own inventions or those that partner with us. We also have a business like private equity, where we take a controlling interest in existing patent portfolios -- from universities, from all over the place. We have labs -- one in Bellevue, where over 100 people come to work We believe it's important for there to be a liquid capital market. We think there's a lot of value in people investing in stuff, and then being able to realize a return. Just as private capital revolutionized their part of the economy, I think we need this [patent buying / licensing]." When Walt asked if "spending all this time suing each other was a good thing," he quipped: "The way our system works, it's very duplicative. People compete. You could say 'Why shouldn't there be one smartphone company -- why doesn't everyone else go home?' The set of incentives that go around patents -- including the one that gives ownership and the right to enforce -- that's how the system work. You could ask 'Why do these tech execs get rich? Shouldn't they plow that into R&D?' I think inventors should get rich. It's good for everybody." Walt then replied: "C'mon -- it has exploded into insanity. Even Tim Cook said it's a pain in the ass and it's overhead, he even said it's broken." Picking up from there, Nathan stated: "He specifically mentioned standards bodies and how they deal with patents. I think meritocracy is the best way to run an industry. In the past, nobody had any patents. In the mid-1990s, Microsoft was sued by Apple, trying to stop Windows -- they didn't use patents, because they didn't have any. These days, we now have head-to-head competition with companies that have patents. People use lots of tricks and techniques. Anytime there's a strategic tool that someone can use to get ahead -- back in the day it was Netscape and Microsoft, Apple and Microsoft, etc. -- those big battles involve companies with patents today. I didn't create that situation, but it was clear as day to me that it was going to happen, because that's what happens in mature markets." Walt followed up: "You just buy up patents and then you sue people, and I don't understand how that helps innovation and creativity in the world." Said Nathan, "If people create something and don't get paid, that's a problem. It's very hard for individual inventors to get paid. For the same reason that private equity is valuable -- broadly, that's a good thing -- in the case of patents, many that own them aren't in a good position to take the next step. Mostly, we license patents; we don't mostly sue people. If you don't enforce your rights, no one is going to enforce them for you. Most CFOs see the R&D department as a black hole -- the roach motel for cash. Money goes in and it doesn't come out. Patent revenue helps make R&D a better investment." Walt cut straight to the point: "Do you see any problems with the rat's nest of lawsuits." To which Nathan replied: "The problem is that the industry is growing up. In mature industries, people actually respect patents. Look at biotech -- how much innovation would exist without patents? Experts will tell you, 'None.' The incentive that patents provide is essential in mature industries. In this narrow industry, people used to think 'Hey, we're different.' In the early days of the software industry, people cared about copyright and didn't give a damn about patents -- they copied each other willy-nilly. From there, Walt proposed this: "How would you change the patent system, or is it just fine right now?" Nathan offered up: "Not long ago, there was the America Invents Act, it was maybe seven years in the lobbying process. As with every bill of its size, there were some pros and cons. Most observers of the patent system would say, however, that it was as good as we could've done. It'll probably be ten years before it changes majorly again, save for court decisions along the way. With the Act, the goals they had seven years ago -- most of those were dealt with by court decisions in between. When people say it's broken, they almost always have an axe to grind. If you look at quantitative reasons, you don't see the patent system as broken at all." Walt, in closing: "If you were Tim Cook, and you had his job -- or if you had the job of running Samsung, would you continue slugging it out in court, or would you let the market deal with it, sign a licensing deal, what?" Nathan: "They commoditize the handset guys and control them down to a ridiculous level. The miracle that Jobs did was the creation of a new business model. He forced the carrier to not mess with them, allow Apple to own the App Store -- he had a different business model. It's one of the great business achievements of the 21st century. As a result, when he sees Android coming in -- well, you don't buy Android, you give it away for free -- it winds up undercutting that specialness. They don't want to be the R&D lab for people to give it away for free, and they don't want to devalue that specialness. Tim Cook is now trying to protect his very valuable castle. If I were Samsung -- who makes great products also -- I'd say 'How can I get [Apple-level] clout?' It's really hard to compete with Apple on pure coolness, and if you do, you're probably going to use some of the things they pioneered." |
| Canadian carriers put Galaxy S III launch on June 20th, back dual-core 1.5GHz chip for LTE models Posted: 30 May 2012 11:29 AM PDT Canadian carriers flocked to the Galaxy S III before we'd barely even left our seats in London to try it, and it looks like they're also more than a little eager to provide launch details ahead of their American counterparts. Telus and Videotron have both confirmed the leaked June 20th release date, and Telus has gone so far as to reinforce suspicions that LTE models will use the Snapdragon S4 instead of the Exynos 4 Quad -- it expects the phone to use a "1.5GHz dual-core processor," which sure sounds like Qualcomm's latest to us. The same carrier has nailed down pricing at $160 on a three-year contract for a 16GB version and $210 for a 32GB model. Other carriers like Bell and Rogers are still a bit commitment-phobic, although that earlier Best Buy tip makes us think they'll fall into line before long. |
| ZTE teases 6.2mm-thick 'Athena,' crams in 720p IPS display and Cortex-A15 chip Posted: 30 May 2012 11:13 AM PDT Never mind Huawei's 6.68mm-thick Ascend P1 S or Oppo's 6.65mm-thick Finder, because the record's about to be beaten yet again by another Chinese manufacturer. Codenamed "Athena," this mysterious ZTE phone's been getting a fair bit of attention on Sina Weibo with its 6.2mm slimness claim, all thanks to a keen terminal device strategy director from the company. While Mr. Lu hasn't delved into specifics, what we know so far is that Athena will feature a 720p display, Cortex-A15 chip (a source of ours said it will be multi-core) and up to 64GB of internal storage, as well as a "Miflavor UI" -- something that we've already previewed on the Era at MWC -- to go on top of Android 4.0. Lu also hinted that there will be several color options, but we're more than happy to nab that black kevlar edition in the above shot (and someone should tell Motorola to take a look at this). Two more pictures after the break to keep you busy for the time being. |
| Lenovo LePhone K800 launches, officially brings Medfield to China Posted: 30 May 2012 10:58 AM PDT At CES 2012, Lenovo was the first to announce a Medfield-powered smartphone: the K800. And while it was the first to be unveiled, it couldn't beat the Lava Xolo X900 to market. Lenovo's not too worried about that, however, as the K800 has arrived in China right on schedule, having originally aimed for a Q2 launch and later refining the timeframe to the end of May. The fruits of Intel's labor can be had for the grand 'ol retail price of RMB 3,299 ($524), which gets you a 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, Android 2.3, a 4.5-inch 720p display, an 8MP rear camera and 16GB of internal storage. We haven't heard any news of the phone reaching across the Pacific, but we're sure that won't stop the most insistent of you from grabbing a unit through alternative methods, right? |
| Google Chromebooks bring the cloud to the plane with 12 free Gogo sessions Posted: 30 May 2012 10:39 AM PDT Need a dozen or so extra reasons to pick up a new Samsung Chromebook? How's about 12 free in-flight WiFi sessions from GoGo? Granted, it's probably not enough reason alone to pick up the browser-based notebook, but it should help sweeten the deal a bit. The deal, which kicks in after May 31st, will have you flying the friendly web on some 1,500 Gogo-sporting planes.
|
| Logitech outs Apple-friendly Wireless Solar Keyboard K760, we go hands-on Posted: 30 May 2012 10:13 AM PDT Earlier this May, Logitech unveiled its Solar Keyboard Folio for the new iPad and iPad 2, and the accessory maker is rounding out the month by adding another sun-powered peripheral to its stable. Like the Keyboard Folio, the just-announced Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 works with iPads, but it's also compatible with Macs and iPhones. The K760 has Bluetooth for pairing up to three devices at a time, and it features Mac-specific keys such as Brightness, Command and Eject. Users should get about three months of use after the keyboard is fully charged up via sun or indoor light. We got to do a bit of typing with the K760, and are happy to report that it's a fairly well-built little grid. The deck feels solid, and the keys have a decent depth to them when pressed. Plus, the spun metal power button and the silver flake paint job lend a premium appearance. It'll cost $80 when it goes on sale next month, and you can get a closer look at what those dollars will buy in our gallery below. Head past the break for the full PR. Michael Gorman contributed to this report Type with Light on Logitech's New Solar Keyboard for Mac, iPad and iPhone "Laptops, smartphones and tablets are ubiquitous – both at work and at play," said Denis Pavillard, vice president of experience design at Logitech. "Because Apple devices are central to this trend, Logitech is committed to improving the way people interact with them. With its simple solar charging, familiar Mac layout and comfortable design, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 will appeal to Apple users worldwide." The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is stylish and compact with onboard solar cells for hassle-free charging. With its easy-switching Bluetooth connection, you can pair your keyboard to as many as three devices and switch among them without having to reconnect. This means you can move from typing on your Mac to your iPad to your iPhone – and back again – with the simple push of a button. The perfect match for your favorite Apple device, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 features a slim, minimalist design and Mac-specific keys, including Command, Brightness, Eject and more. The unique Logitech concave key design gives you more comfortable and quiet typing, and offers more speed and precision than typing on an on-screen keyboard. And, with its environmentally friendly PVC-free construction, fully recyclable box and onboard solar cells for charging, this keyboard is designed to minimize its environmental footprint. Similar to the existing Logitech Solar Keyboards, you can charge this keyboard in any light – low light or lamp light, indoors or outdoors. Fully powered, the keyboard works for at least three months, even in total darkness (based on average use per day of eight hours). Pricing and Availability The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in June 2012, for a suggested retail price of $79.99. For more information please visit www.logitech.com or our blog. |
| Posted: 30 May 2012 10:02 AM PDT Zynga CEO and founder Mark Pincus just took the stage here at D10, and in a wide-ranging interview with Kara Swisher, he sidestepped conversation about Words With Friends and Farmville long enough to touch on the murky world of console gaming. In a bid to quell any potential surprises at E3 next month, Mark said outrightly that his company is not interested in getting into the console world. "We're aiming for you," he said while pointing at Swisher. "We're going after the mainstream market. There's too much friction [in the console world]." He also made clear that he tries to not look too far ahead of where the world really is. When talking about the undeniable shift to mobile, he made clear that there's still a huge amount of desktop traffic on Zynga's games -- "lots of people play while bored on conference calls at work," he quipped. It's an interesting viewpoint in a world where PSN and Xbox Live Arcade has given independent developers all new distribution platforms to reach users, but it also highlights the outfit's intrinsic attachment to Facebook in particular. In response to a question from The Verge's Josh Topolsky -- focused on extracting information about Zynga's plans on operating as a fully detached company that didn't necessarily rely on Facebook for practically all of its revenue -- Mark offered the following regarding its plans to move forward:
It's curious because PSN and XBLA are arguably just as social as Facebook-based gaming, but of course, there's a lot of difficulty in porting, getting agreements with the platforms, etc. We also couldn't help but notice Mark's answer to Kara's prodding around Angry Birds. When asked if Zynga considered buying Angry Birds from Rovio, he said that the two "had talked," but we certainly got the impression that those discussions didn't last too awfully long. Wonder if that means we'll ever see 'perturbed fowl' as a Draw Something clue.... |
| ICANN stops taking custom domain names at 7PM ET, details the TLD explosion June 13th Posted: 30 May 2012 09:52 AM PDT ICANN anticipated that we'd see the first fruits of its open season on top-level domains (TLDs) roughly a year after the hunt began; sure enough, it's winding down applications tonight. If you have the $185,000 plus $25,000 per year to make a domain your own, you've got until midnight GMT (7PM ET) to get that custom spin on the web. Don't think that you'll get the rubber stamp right away, though. ICANN plans to detail the requests on June 13th and consider any objections over similarity or multiple bids for the same name. If all goes smoothly, the first generic TLDs will be active within nine months, while those who face a fight could be waiting roughly one to two years. We're just hoping someone had the courtesy to pick up .gadget for us -- not that ICANN's worried about a gap in registrations after taking $352 million in fees and over 2,000 applications so far. |
| Leica Monochrom test turns up the ISO, doesn't bring the noise Posted: 30 May 2012 09:31 AM PDT In the case of "why would you pay $8k for a black and white camera," exhibit 'A' would surely be the lack of a color filter array corrupting the image. Without one, the Leica Monochrom -- with a similar CCD to its M9 stablemate -- should have less noise. Tests comparing the two cameras on Red Dot Forum confirm it, with the Monochrom cleaner in glorious black & white at all ISO's up to the M9's maximum of 2500. Past that, a touch of NR gave the Monochrom a pleasing film-grain look to our eyes at ISO 5000, but at ISO 10,000 images started to sparkle and approach the "barely usable" range. Still, combined with the increased sharpness and resolution, very well-heeled purists might be tempted. |
| Infinitec returns with Android 4.0-based HDMI dongle, Kickstarts the Pocket TV Posted: 30 May 2012 09:05 AM PDT Remember Infinitec? Tricky question, no? The company came to us at CES 2010 with a product that had big -- nay, huge -- aspirations. It was a simple USB stick that promised to enable ad hoc streaming, claiming to bring "infinite storage" to PC users. Unfortunately, it wasn't exactly seamless in operation, and the company's been radio silent ever since. Until today. The Dubai-based outfit is officially getting back in the consumer technology game starting right now, and as it seems that all the cool kids are doing these days, it's going the Kickstarter route in lieu of more conventional capital raising. The new product is an Android-based HDMI dongle -- not entirely unlike a few others we've seen -- which is being dubbed Pocket TV. Just as Tim Cook stated last night at D10, the TV industry is an interesting one, and it's obvious that people want something different than they have today. Plug this guy into your television, and you'll be able to Skype from the big screen, show PowerPoint presentations without a laptop connection and tap into files you've got hosted on Dropbox (or any other cloud-based Android app). Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is onboard, and it'll ship with a gyro-equipped keyboard remote that allows control via one's hand motions. Thinking of giving these guys another shot? Hit that source link below and put your money ($99 or more) where your mouse is. |
| HP names Bill Veghte new COO, hands over the keys to HP Software Posted: 30 May 2012 08:32 AM PDT HP Appoints George Kadifa to Lead HP Software Bill Veghte named chief operating officer PALO ALTO, Calif., May 30, 2012 Kadifa, a 30-year veteran of the IT industry, will report to Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP, and will join the HP executive council. He will lead HP's multibillion dollar IT Performance Suite software portfolio, which enables enterprise IT organizations to manage and secure IT from applications to infrastructure in the cloud and on premise across platforms. Kadifa joins HP from Silver Lake, a global technology investment firm with more than $14 billion of assets under management, where he most recently served as operating partner for the Value Creation Team. In that role, he was responsible for driving operational improvement and growth in a wide range of enterprises within the 24-company portfolio of the firm's large-cap investment fund. Prior to that, he held executive positions at both IBM and Corio. Throughout his career, he has built strong expertise in sales, business development, consulting management and general management. "George brings a wealth of experience gained at traditional software companies, service providers and startups," said Whitman. "His ability to manage multiple business models will prove extremely valuable to HP as we extend our software offerings in cloud, information and security." As COO, Veghte will help further accelerate the execution of the company's strategy by working across HP to drive innovation and customer satisfaction. Veghte will work closely with Whitman as well as his peers on HP's executive council to support key projects affecting the company's operational success. "Bill has done an excellent job delivering strong results in HP Software, and more recently helping us focus our efforts in the execution of our strategy," said Whitman. "With Bill's additional responsibilities, I am confident we can accelerate progress across our portfolio of assets. About HP HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com. |
| Verizon doubles FiOS speeds to 300Mbps, thumb-twiddling waits are officially over Posted: 30 May 2012 08:17 AM PDT Verizon's IP network traffic jam apparently wasn't that much of an issue, since it just kicked up the speeds for FiOS service by a notch... or ten. Unless you're a spendthrift sticking to the base 15Mbps plan, download speeds have more than doubled across the board -- including to an eye-watering 300Mbps if you opt for the costliest plan. Upload speeds aren't advancing quite so quickly, although those who spring for the two highest tiers will see their upload speeds crack 65Mbps. The fiber speed-up is being attributed to a flood of Internet video and cloud backups, both of which get downright reasonable at 300Mbps; Verizon figures that both a 2-hour HD movie download and a 10GB backup will finish in 22 minutes or less. Whether or not pricing will have changed will have to wait until the speed upgrades take effect in June. Somehow, we can't imagine a drop anytime soon in the $200 monthly outlay for the top tier. |
| Microsoft's Photosynth app lets (some) Windows Phone users in on the panorama craze Posted: 30 May 2012 07:46 AM PDT Are you one of those folks who enjoys taking snaps of everything around you and own a Mango-flavored Windows Phone slab? Well, we've got some phenomenal news for you: Microsoft has placed its Photosynth application up for grabs on the Marketplace. It's simple, the app -- which doesn't cost a dime -- will let you shoot some 360-degree photos in both landscape and portrait mode. Additionally, you'll be able to share those all-around shots with your friends on Twitter as well as the newly public Zuck network. You can snag Redmond's Photosynth v1.0 now straight from your WP device or from the Marketplace link below -- let's just hope you can give that London panorama a run for its money. |
| Google offers unified profiles, begins merging Orkut with Google+ Posted: 30 May 2012 07:17 AM PDT Orkut has announced that users of Google's other social network can now use both from a unified profile. Those who plump for the change will find their details merged (using your Google+ credentials) and will now be subject to the same privacy and sharing settings. While popular in Brazil and India, Orkut hasn't been a high priority project for Mountain View for a long time, so it's easy to see this as a move to push big swathes of people to make a move onto the company's newest favorite son. |
| Olympus to settle with ex-chief exec over misconduct, may involve mountains of cash Posted: 30 May 2012 06:44 AM PDT As Olympus' recent accounting scandal finally begins to wind down, the guy who blew the whistle on the financial wrongdoings might actually be the one to make out like a bandit. Michael Woodford, former chief executive of the company, has settled out of court with his former employer over his unfair dismissal that occurred just two weeks after his appointment. The settlement still has to be approved by the mostly new board (read: the other guys got arrested), but the Financial Times speculates that it'll result in £10 million ($15.5 million) being awarded to Woodford, or what's left on his contract. Company stock prices are around half of what they stood at before the scandal. Suddenly all those Facebook shares you jumped on don't look so bad. |
| Google+ Local sees reviews from friends, Zagat invade your restaurant hunts (video) Posted: 30 May 2012 06:22 AM PDT We'd been wondering what Google would do following its acquisition of Zagat, and now we know: it's part of Google+ Local, a boost to Maps, general search, and Google+ itself. Zagat's point system now automatically shows up in search results for restaurants that have been given the extra scrutiny. Those of us who don't trust The Man for reviews will also now see Google+ friends' picks surface at the same time. The addition is considered important enough that Google is even adding a Local tab on Google+ just to show recommendations, so you won't have to abandon your constant updating (you're always posting on Google+, right?) to find a well-rated sushi place. Local should be live soon, if not now, and will make search plus Your World that much more omnipresent. |
| Posted: 30 May 2012 05:49 AM PDT A snapshot of the last several years in Motorola's history shows a company in flux, culminating last week, when the smartphone manufacturer's sale to Google was finally given the green light. After undergoing governmental scrutiny from the US, China and the EU, the move, priced at around $12.5 billion, seems a logical fit, given the phone maker's push toward a portfolio built nearly exclusively around the search giant's mobile operating system. Of course, it's hard to imagine such a transaction taking place, had the Mobility wing not been spun off from Motorola a year and a half prior. These are the latest events for a company that has undergone a fair amount of change in its 80-plus-year existence. It's a long and fascinating story -- one likely hazy at best for those who can only remember as far back as the original RAZR or StarTAC. So, before the company embarks on the next chapter of its history, let's take a quick look back, after the break. The Early Years
Before it was a international telecommunications giant, Motorola was the name of a car radio. The moniker was an amalgam of sorts, the "motor" pulled from "motorcar" paired up with "-ola," to signify sound. The Motorola car radio was released by the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in 1930, two years after the company's founding in Chicago, kicking things off with a battery eliminator, aimed at letting battery-powered home radios run off of household electricity. The company was launched by two brothers, Joseph and Paul Galvin, the latter of whom reportedly bestowed the car radio with its soon-to-be-famous name. The same year it was released, the Motorola became Galvin's first internationally sold product -- albeit on a fairly small scale, moving two units in Mexico City. Not an epic feat by any stretch, sure, but companies rarely become multinational presences overnight. In 1947, the company dropped the name of its founders in favor of a punchier moniker borrowed from its early car stereo -- a name that meant "sound in motion," according to the company line. A fitting switch, in light of the Galvins' embrace of all things radio, including models for the home, police cruisers and two-way units like the Handie-Talkie, which would be put to use on the battlefields of WWII. The company wouldn't adopt the now familiar "M" Motorola logo for nearly another decade, favoring a decidedly less iconic, cursive font for the time being.
Motorola even flirted with an early version of the car phone in 1946, developing the Car Radiotelephone for Illinois Bell. Newly rechristened, the company found more success with 1947's Golden View Television, a seven-inch set that sold at a reasonable $190. In the '60s, the company would go cordless with the 19-inch Astronaut TV, offer up color tubes and cap off the decade with another large leap -- providing radio technology for Apollo 11's moon landing. Birth of the Cellphone
In 1973, Motorola took some major steps toward the technology that would define it in the decades to come, showing off the DynaTAC and demonstrating the phenomenon of cellular telephones to the world. It wasn't until 1984 that the brick-sized phone would actually start making its way into the hands of consumers. The 80s also saw the development of Six Sigma, a quality control strategy aimed at nearly error-free products. By the end of the decade, the MicroTAC hit the market, dropping down the size and weight a good deal and shifting toward a flip phone form factor. That handset was succeeded in 1996 by the truly iconic StarTAC, a (relatively) tiny, "wearable" handset that popularized the clamshell design and brought the vibrate option over from the pager side of Motorola's business. Into The Smartphone Era
Motorola had another giant hit on its hands with 2004's RAZR, pushing the boundaries of cell phone size -- and fashion -- yet again, becoming the best-selling clamshell ever made. By the end of decade, Motorola had shifted its focus to Google's Android, in a bid to get on-board with the smartphone explosion set off by the iPhone and its ilk. The company attempted to put its stamp on the mobile operating system with the MotoBlur skin, much to chagrin of users and critics. In October 2009, the company bucked the trend away from physical keyboards with the release of the Droid, an Android 2.0 slider with a Lucasfilm-licensed name that Motorola would borrow for a slew of subsequent handsets.
The company kicked off 2011 with a rift. After years of discussions, it was split into two parts: Motorola Solutions, an enterprise- and government-facing wing, and Motorola Mobility, specializing in handsets and set-top boxes. In August of last year, Google announced that it would be acquiring Mobility for around $12.5 billion, a deal that would close nearly nine months after it was first made public. |
| Flipboard beta coming to all Android devices soon, hopes to handle resolution variety with poise Posted: 30 May 2012 05:22 AM PDT Eagle-eyed readers might remember that Flipboard's long-awaited port to Android started with a fair amount of confusion; it showed up (seemingly at random) on Samsung's Galaxy S III, but soon after, we learned that it would only be available for that very phone over on the Android side of things. Recently, we uncovered the story of why, and what the company's planning for the future. Put simply, that "device diversity" that keeps developers on their toes is at the forefront of the issue here. For those unaware, Flipboard is quite the polished app over on iOS, and the outfit didn't want its product to offer a subpar experience on competing platforms. In order to gain a better grip on the app's appearance in the land of mobile desserts, it teamed up with Samsung to focus on a single screen, and a single screen resolution. Naturally, it's expecting a huge amount of GSIII shipments, so that's certainly not a bad device to start on. But in the effort of understanding Flipboard's future on Android, it's important to note that whole "start" phrase. Turns out, the company's eerily close to having a build ready for the rest of the Android smartphone universe. But, smartly, it's planning to release it to a small subset of users with a clear 'beta' label. The idea here is to offer it up to savvy Android users who understand the art of sideloading an APK, giving them the tools to submit bug reports and help polish up Flipboard on the many, many variations of devices out there. Truth be told, we wish more app makers would give this approach a try. Tossing that 'beta' label on there keeps expectations in check, and allowing early adopters to chime in with bugs enables the final product to be that much more stable across a wide gamut of screen resolutions. We weren't able to nail down a specific launch date, but Android aficionados hoping to get a few flips in shouldn't have to wait too many more months before that beta offering is made public. In the meanwhile, there's always the renegade method -- but of course, we'd caution that you proceed at your own risk. |
| Nokia Lumia 610 launches in the UK, starts on £15 per month contracts Posted: 30 May 2012 05:04 AM PDT Nokia's latest Windows Phone addition might not stack up to the polycarbonate glory of its forebears, but at this price, it's hard to complain that much. While the reduced RAM specification is proving tricky with some apps, the Lumia 610 has some strong points, arriving with WiFi tethering out of the box and a raft of Nokia's impressive home-made apps. We're putting the phone through its paces for review now, so you can expect our verdict pretty soon. The Lumia 610 will be available across Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and Three, in a choice of white, cyan, magenta and black finishes. Phone sellers Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u will also be more than willing to take your money and if you'd like to hear Nokia wax lyrical on its tiniest leading light, take a look right after the break. Fun and affordable: Nokia launches the Lumia 610 in the UK Includes WiFi tethering and 'flip-to-silence' with latest sleek Windows Phone experience
London, 30 May 2012 – Nokia today announced the most affordable Lumia smartphone to date with the stylish new Nokia Lumia 610 available in the UK in white, cyan, magenta and black.
Description: Description: Nokia Lumia 610-colors_The fast and social smartphone offers a number of new features including WiFi tethering and flip-to-silence, and is priced from £15.00 per month on contract from O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u.
The distinctive Nokia Lumia 610 brings amazing social networking and puts all contacts from mobile, email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn into one place with the People Hub. Plus there's gaming from Xbox Live, and signature Nokia apps including Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, Nokia Transport and Nokia Music bringing free offline music without subscription.
"The 610 brings the fast and sleek Nokia Lumia experience to lower priced areas of the market," said Conor Pierce, vice president Western Europe, Nokia. "Pre-loaded with Nokia Mix Radio, our free music streaming service and Nokia Drive, our global turn-by-turn navigation app, makes the Nokia Lumia 610 ideal for those looking for their first smartphone."
Pre-loaded with the Microsoft Office app, users can access Word, PowerPoint and Excel on the go and use OneNote mobile to capture notes, ideas, pictures and voice memos, making it ideal for busy students. The addition of Skydrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service, files and notes can be synchronised, opened and edited from any PC or directly from their phone.
|
| Creative announces Sound BlasterAxx wireless speakers with mics (update: hands-on!) Posted: 30 May 2012 04:49 AM PDT In a departure from its traditional sound cards, Creative has just unveiled a line of Bluetooth speakers with built-in mics, called the Sound BlasterAxx range. Yes, these are the pun-heavy ones we anticipated last week, but now we have a lot more detail. There are three different sizes of speaker, but only the larger two (the SBX-20 and SBX-10) are Bluetooth -- the smaller and cheaper SBX-8 must be tethered. All contain the new SBAxx-1 hardware processor, and even the SBX-20 can be powered over USB from a mobile device (with sufficient current output) or a power pack. The speakers are designed to bring Creative into the Internet Age with a number of voice-enhancing features for video chat apps like Skype. These include highly-focused directionality and noise reduction, to frame out peripheral sounds, and also Smart Volume, which automatically adjusts audio levels as you move closer to or further from the mic. This same processing technology is also claimed to assist with voice-recognition platforms like Siri when you use a Sound BlasterAxx speaker to communicate with your device instead of its regular microphone. There's also some quirky stuff like comic voice effects, just in case you're not embarrassed by how you sound on a mic already. The SBX-8 and SBX-10 will be available in the UK from early July for £80 and £130 respectively, while the flagship SBX-20 will arrive in August for £180. Update: Now with added gallery and video after the break!
Creative Unveils the Sound BlasterAxx™ - A Whole New Generation of Sound Blaster to Dazzle the New Mobile Networked Generation "After selling 400 Million Sound Blasters, I was staring at an irony that few realised – they all don't make sound! It was probably due to the hassle of installing Sound Blaster inside the PC; can you imagine the horror if one needs to further install some speakers inside? Today we face a whole new generation of users, who have busy and fast-paced lifestyles. They demand elegant, simple and hassle-free solutions. My ultimate challenge was how to design a whole new Sound Blaster for them. Sound BlasterAxx ushers in a whole new generation of Sound Blaster and marks a paradigm shift for the brand – for the first time ever, we have created a Sound Blaster that not only produces awesome audio, it actually listens to you and your audio environment. This paradigm shift unlocks a whole new world of useful and exciting applications," said Creative Chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo, creator of the Sound Blaster. "Sound BlasterAxx provides absolute freedom, total control and convenience from just a touch on their mobile devices, enabling users to completely customise their listening experience for music, films and games. We have designed it to also deliver stunning voice quality with smartphone and Skype hands-free calls through adaptive communication technologies that can cancel ambient noise and focusing the microphone-array for accurate voice pick-up. If you like, you may even change your voice when calling others," continued Sim. "Plus it's amazingly simple to use. Installation is as easy as inserting a USB dongle – just simply insert-and-go, nothing else. And it requires virtually no power – in fact, I've banned the unwieldy power adapter together with its cable and plugs! This not only saves money for the users, it's a small but meaningful contribution towards saving the environment." "Audio has never been so simple, so elegant, so fun, so engaging, so dramatic and so magical" continued Sim. The Sound BlasterAxx stands above the rest in appearance as well as performance. Elegantly designed in the form of a hexagonal tower with backlit capacitive touch controls, it allows users to access key functions at a touch. The Sound BlasterAxx utilises a unique patent-pending "stacked stereo" speaker design that incorporates two-speaker drivers angled to provide stereo separation. When combined with SBX Pro Studio Surround technology, it delivers awesome room-filling sound from a compact one-piece device powered by only the tiny USB current. Special circuitry enables very low power consumption but large amplified power output from a PC or Mac USB connection. This all-in-one design eliminates the need for a two-speaker system with all the messy wiring, microphones and unwieldy power adaptors along with their plugs and cables. The Sound BlasterAxx also works standalone when used with mobile devices. It can then be powered by any certified simple USB power adaptor. Since the SB-Axx1™ chip is so powerful, flexible and programmable, it is able to adapt quickly and seamlessly to any new audio scenario in these multi-faceted and connected worlds. SBX Pro Studio™ enhances the world of LISTENING with Awesome Playback: • SBX Crystalizer™ - Enhances audio for music and movies by restoring details in the high and low frequencies CrystalVoice™ Technology enhances the world of TALKING and Communication with crystal-clear hands-free voice and video conference calls: • Acoustic Echo Cancellation - Eliminates the echoes in a hands-free conference call The whole suite of technologies on the Sound BlasterAxx can be controlled from the PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets. Sound BlasterAxx Control Panel lets users fully customise and control their audio experience from a PC or Mac. The Creative Central app lets users do the same from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet – with a newfound wireless convenience. In a nutshell, Sound BlasterAxx makes the two fundamental activities of talking and listening simple again. About the Sound BlasterAxx Series Sound BlasterAxx SBX 20 Sound BlasterAxx is also available in the following models: Sound BlasterAxx SBX 10 Sound BlasterAxx SBX 8 Pricing and Availability |
| Razer outs Battlefield 3 aviator headsets Posted: 30 May 2012 04:33 AM PDT Can't satisfy your appetite for video game tie-in peripherals? Razer's new military aviator-inspired, Battlefield 3-branded BlackShark headsets might do the trick. Each memory foam, leatherette-lined ear cup packs 40mm drivers paired with ambient noise cancellation and enhanced bass. You can also use the the detachable, unidirectional boom microphone to yell at teammates to take cover. The whole package rings up at $129.99 -- or €129.99 for those across the pond -- and will be ready for duty in July. Check out the gallery and full PR below.
SOUND LOCKED, LOADED AND FULL OF BITE WITH BATTLEFIELD 3 RAZER BLACKSHARK "The Razer BlackShark is a PC gaming headset with crisp audio and booming bass that is built for a highly intense shooter like Battlefield 3," said Robert 'RazerGuy' Krakoff, president of Razer USA. "It lets you hear the gunfire, the explosions and the thunderous roar of the jets, as if you were in the heat of the battle. Designed based on headsets sported by real attack helicopter pilots, no serious soldiers on the frontlines of Battlefield 3 should be without their Razer BlackShark." For more information about the Razer BlackShark, please visit www.razerzone.com/BlackShark |
| Remote-controlled Aquabotix HydroView takes underwater HD video, Mrs. Puff calls insurance agent Posted: 30 May 2012 04:17 AM PDT Using an iPad to control your music system? Been there, done that. Using an iPad to control a submersible that also records underwater video in 1080p? Oh, the possibilities. Aquabotix is giving Jacques Cousteau wannabes the ability to shoot the watery depths all the way down to 150 feet as its underwater doohickey -- the HydroView -- officially goes on sale. Measuring 14.6 x 19 x 7 inches and weighing nine pounds, the submersible comes with LED lights, a three-hour battery and a top-side box that connects with a cable tether. The box also allows users to communicate with the HydroView via an iPad, Mac or PC. Besides getting video proof of, say, which swimmers ate too many bean burritos for lunch, the submersible can also take pictures and gather data about water conditions. Top speed for the submersible is five knots -- one knot when going in reverse. Just make sure you don't channel your inner SpongeBob while remotely driving the thing. Although it's not in the same league as Rinspeed's submersible Elise, the HydroView still doesn't come cheap at $3,995 a pop. Check out the official PR and, uh, low-def video of the diminutive diver in action after the break.
Aquabotix Announces Availability of the Hydroview; Wireless iPad-Controlled Underwater Vehicle Delivers Live Video from the Depths The affordable HydroView relies on familiar iPad-based controls to provide users with an up-close experience with the underwater world Aquabotix, a marine technology company bringing the accessibility of consumer electronics products to the complex world of underwater video, today announced the availability of the Aquabotix HydroView, an affordable and easy-to-use remote-operated underwater vehicle that instantly beams a high definition video back to the surface. Controlled wirelessly with an iOS tablet, smartphone or any laptop, the HydroView shoots full 1080p HD video and still images, while users intuitively navigate the depths simply by tilting the wireless device and controlling speed and video commands via the touch screen. For some, the HydroView will be an addictively fun way to enjoy the ocean and see what lies beneath. For others it will offer a valuable tool for underwater inspection of vessels and structures, expand the classroom to view undersea life, or explore the depths during fishing or diving trips. Complete with on-board LED lights to provide added visibility in low-light conditions, the HydroView travels at up to five knots forward and one knot in reverse while shooting video or capturing still images and simultaneously collecting data on water conditions from up to 150 feet deep. Users can then easily share their experience with friends online or create unique deliverables for student presentations, a take-away for charter guests or first-person inspection reports. The HydroView communicates wirelessly from the user's handheld device to the HydroView's top-side box, which is in-turn connected to the submersible via a cable tether. Aquabotix has plans to diversify the HydroView lineup to include varying vessel specifications and accessory packages, but this initial offering, the HydroView Sport, comes standard with a 75 foot cable and battery pack that powers up to three hours of underwater exploration. Aquabotix also offers fully customizable cable lengths for added range. Designed as a compact solution for shipboard stowage, the HydroView measures just 14.6x19x7 inches and weighs nine pounds. All components fit easily in to the provided waterproof, hard travel case when not in use. "Every kid dreams of exploring the oceans but few of us truly experience life under the sea. Now, with the HydroView, if you can operate an iPad you can ply the depths like Jacques Cousteau," said Durval Tavares, President & CEO of Aquabotix. "Whether you are a charter boat owner looking to entertain your guests, a commercial captain looking to confirm vessel conditions below the waterline or a first responder looking for a quick and safe way to survey a submerged scene, the HydroView delivers a safe and dry, up-close experience with the underwater world." The HydroView Sport costs $3,995.00 and orders can be placed at http://www.aquabotix.com/hydroview.php. Also available from Aquabotix, the AquaLens employs similar video capabilities as the submersible and is designed to be mounted on the end of a standard boat hook or guide pole, sending live video back to a wrist-mounted LCD screen. MSRP for the AquaLens is $475.00; for more information or to purchase the AquaLens, please visit: http://www.aquabotix.com/aqualens.php Dealers interested in carrying Aquabotix products can contact Michael DeChambeau at michael.dechambeau(at)aquabotix(dot)com. About Aquabotix Dedicated to supporting its non-profit and educational partners, Aquabotix donates a portion of its proceeds to numerous regional environmental partners and education institutions. For every 100 HydroView units sold, Aquabotix donates one of its underwater vehicles to a deserving educational institution to help students expand their classroom, better understand their local waters and encourage protection of these valuable resources. For more information on Aquabotix Technology Corporation and its offerings, please visit: http://www.aquabotix.com/ |
| Mind-reading robotic teachers are more... Anyone? Anyone? Attention-grabbing Posted: 30 May 2012 03:52 AM PDT You'd have thought that replacing a human teacher with a swanky robot would be enough to keep the kids interested, but apparently not. The University of Wisconsin-Madison found that supplying a robot teacher didn't in itself max out concentration. In one trial, they put a Wakamaru robot instructor in the classroom with only mediocre results. But then they switched it out for a robot that could read students' EEG signals to tell when they were enjoying Matthew Broderick daydreams, and which could then change its intonation or wave its metallic hands in response. That second robot resulted in far better scores when the students were subsequently quizzed about their lessons, proving once again that teaching is about more than preaching. |
| LoveFilm signs multi-year digital deal with NBCUniversal, looks Kick Ass Posted: 30 May 2012 03:38 AM PDT LoveFilm is living by its name, and snapping up more movie content for its online service. The latest signing? NBCUniversal. So, if you're a paid up member, this means you'll now get exclusive access to the latest Universal Pictures flicks during the second "pay window" (i.e. once the subscription movie channels have had their time with them.) So if you were hovering over the streaming only option, or undecided on which service to go for, maybe this will help you along with that decision? AMAZON'S LOVEFiLM AND NBCUNIVERSAL ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE MULTI-YEAR DIGITAL AGREEMENT LOVEFiLM, an Amazon company, today announced a new multi-year digital license agreement with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution, providing LOVEFiLM members exclusive streaming access to titles from Universal Pictures during the second pay window. Recent and new release Universal Pictures titles can be accessed through the LOVEFiLM Instant service, available from £4.99 a month on over 175 devices including PC, Mac, Sony Playstation®3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Apple iPad® and a growing number of internet-connected TV sets and Blu-ray players. The NBCUniversal agreement is the latest in a long line of exclusive content deals announced by LOVEFiLM, including agreements with Disney, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Entertainment One and STUDIOCANAL. Jim Buckle, MD of LOVEFiLM, said: "LOVEFiLM is proud to offer its members access to the highest quality content across multiple platforms from another of the world's most respected studios. NBCUniversal is also LOVEFiLM's latest exclusive streaming deal in our quest to deliver the widest choice of content on as many platforms as possible." Additional Universal Pictures titles available to watch instantly by LOVEFiLM members in the UK will include 'It's Complicated', 'Nanny McPhee Returns', 'Leap Year', 'Green Zone', 'The Wolfman', 'Robin Hood', 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World', 'The American', 'Paul', 'Fast And Furious 5', 'Bridesmaids', 'Johnny English Reborn', 'Snow White and the Huntsman', 'Bourne Legacy', 'Dr Seuss' The Lorax' and 'Safe House'. - Ends - |
| Apple Store now selling Nest Thermostat: automated toastiness to cost $250 Posted: 30 May 2012 03:29 AM PDT Apple liked it so much, it's decided to let the Nest Thermostat share shelf-space in its bricks-and-mortar stores and online. Following rumors that Tony Fadell's latest project would appear at his former employer's store, it's now been confirmed with an online listing. Following some brief downtime on the Cupertino corp's retail site, the unit is set to retail for $250. Aside from sharing some design DNA, the thermostat unit can also be controlled from iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs -- we presume that Android functionality is still there. Those that like their summers extra comfortable can hit the store link below. |
| Archos Arnova 80 Cobalt sidles up to the FCC, leaves little to the imagination Posted: 30 May 2012 03:22 AM PDT Archos' line of Android tablets aren't really known for setting consumer tongues a-wagging; those honors are typically reserved for more bold-faced OEMs. As a low-cost alternative to pricier offerings, however, they make mighty fine sense. And one such slate's just swung by the Commission's gates, showing off its shiny black posterior, FCC ID (SOVAC80CO) and Arnova branding. The 80 Cobalt, as its referred to in the docs, appears to be a WiFi-only affair in keeping with its market positioning and, judging from its measurements, is likely to join the ranks of other 8-inch tabs. Hit up the source below to scour the dense fog of RF tests and legalese, if you're so inclined. |
| Huawei hotspot supports 110Mbps downstream on Softbank's 4G network Posted: 30 May 2012 02:59 AM PDT Huawei's 102HW Ultra WiFi 4G router might not be bathing in the same irradiated limelight as Sharp's Pantone 5, but it's said to support the fastest mobile data service in Japan. Announced at SoftBank's summer product rollout, the 102HW sports download speeds of up to 110 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up on AXGP (Advanced eXtended Global Platform) 4G, though it'll fall back to 3G when necessary. Up to ten users can simultaneous surf the web via 802.11b/g/n WiFi at 300 Mbps and share files through a built in microSDXC card slot. The box can also switch to and from SoftBank WiFi hotspots on the fly if cellular connections alone won't cut it. Live in Japan? You'll have to wait until September to land a hotspot of your own. |
| Batman Nokia Lumia 900 priced at £600, throws in some free movie tickets Posted: 30 May 2012 02:47 AM PDT We said it was coming soon, and the Dark Knight-themed WinPho hasn't disappointed. Phones 4u has just announced that pre-ordered laser-etched Lumia 900s will be delivered on June 1st; that's this Friday. Off-contract pricing is pegged at £600, although multiple contracts are also available from the UK retailer. There doesn't appear to be any extra functionality on the special edition, although bragging rights do count for a lot. The phone will arrive in limited numbers, but neither Nokia nor Phones 4u is spilling the beans on precise unit numbers. The retailer is also throwing in free tickets to see the Dark Knight Rises at UK cinemas (or theaters) this summer, plus the chance to hit up the premiere. Pre-ordering heroes can zip-wire their way to the source link below. Update: SlashGear's been told by Phones 4u that there will be 900 of the special edition phones. |
| Facebook allowed to triple size of its HQ, pays $10 million for the privilege Posted: 30 May 2012 02:28 AM PDT Swollen with cash following its IPO, Facebook is looking to expand its headquarters in Menlo Park. Its plan to triple its workforce there from 2,200 to 6,600 people was approved by local officials last night, removing the previous cap that allowed a maximum of 3,600 messy, resource-consuming humans. In lieu of the added burden on the city, Facebook will have to contribute $850,000 per year for ten years, plus a one-time payment of $1,000,000. The start of a surge towards greater products and profits, or the beginning of a complacent corporate decline? We'll let the stock market decide. |
| Project Glass revealed to have physical trackpad along right arm (video) Posted: 30 May 2012 02:16 AM PDT Sergey Brin has appeared on The Gavin Newsom Show on Current TV to drop a few more enticing hints about Project Glass. While showing the presenter a picture he'd taken with the AR glasses, he revealed that the prototype is controlled with a trackpad running down the right* arm. He also talked about the device's genesis in Goggle's X Lab, which he described as an "advanced skunkworks" where "far-out projects" are developed -- it's also the department that occupies most of his time. While the units he and his colleagues have been wearing are very rough prototypes, the Google co-founder shared his private hope that the tech will make its way to general release next year. You can catch the extract in full in the video after the break. *Right for the wearer, left for the observer. It depends entirely on your perspective. |
| Google Nexus tablet appears in benchmarks, appears to run on quad-core Tegra 3 Posted: 30 May 2012 01:59 AM PDT ASUS's seven-inch MeMo tablet has just ducked under the FCC's gates, but some benchmark results for a purported Google and ASUS team-up could tally with the same device. According to the listing, the Google Asus Nexus 7 will arrive with NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 CPU, clocked at 1.3 GHz, while that (presumably) 7-inch screen packs a 768 x 1280 resolution. The hardware specs end there, but thanks to some investigation by Android Police and Rightware, it appears that this mystery tablet is running Android 4.1 -- possibly the version number for Android's next iteration, Jelly Bean. There are several more hints adding credence to these benchmark results, including the fish-based "grouper" codename, which follows the Stingray moniker that was handed to the Motorola Xoom ahead of its reveal. We're just itching to know whether it'll still manage a sub-$300 price-tag. |
| Sony announces Xperia Go and Xperia acro S: waterproof and dual-core (video) Posted: 30 May 2012 01:50 AM PDT If you were underwhelmed by the middling specs of Sony's past toughphones, you might want to take a look at the latest pair to join the 2012 Xperia family. First up, the Xperia go houses a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 display with a dual-core 1GHz processor, powering the (unfortunately still) Gingerbread interface. Sony has reiterated that Android 4.0 will find its way to both new devices. The Xperia go also throws in a 5-megapixel camera and the same wet finger tracking seen on the Xperia Active, which will mean the phone can be steered during underwater adventures. You be able to pick from white, black and yellow color options when the phone arrives in Q3 this year. The Xperia acro S bumps the screen resolution up to 720p, slathered across a 4.3-inch surface, alongside a 12-megapixel camera and dedicated shutter button. It appears to be the global version of the Japan-only Xperia acro HD and arrives PlayStation-certified. Like the Xperia go, it totes IP55 and IP57 ratings for dust and water resistance, plus NFC capability of Sony's SmartTags. The Xperia acro S will land in black, white and pink color options -- but we're still waiting to hear more precise availability details. Video tours for both handsets are right after the break. Update: We've been told that the Xperia go will launch as the Xperia advance in the US -- but dates and prices remain a mystery. Introducing Xperia go - the new stylish, durable and water resistant smartphone from Sony •A smart, sleek and durable smartphone made to resist life's challenges without compromising on design or functionality •Easy connectivity and premium entertainment from Sony Entertainment Network anywhere, anytime • Reality Display for razor sharp clarity and fast capture camera to go from sleep to snap in just over a second 30 May, London, United Kingdom – Sony Mobile Communication ("Sony Mobile") today announced the new Xperia™ smartphone for consumers looking for premium specifications and beautiful design with extra durability and water resistance. Xperia go has a scratch resistant mineral glass display and meets industry standard IP ratings* (International Protection) for protection against dust and water immersion. Xperia go enables easy connectivity to share and enjoy content on TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet. They also come preloaded with Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited from Sony Entertainment Network giving access to Hollywood blockbusters, TV series and millions and millions of music tracks. Xperia go will be available in the UK from the third quarter of 2012. Xperia go Key features for Xperia go With Xperia go consumers can watch the latest movies and TV shows in razor sharp quality and with super fast performance. Its sleek and stylish design means durable and water resistant smartphones no longer have to look bulky and ruggedized: •3.5" Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine gives razor sharp clarity •5MP fast capture camera goes from sleep to snap in just over a second •Scratch resistant mineral glass display with wet finger tracking •Highest level of dust and water resistance in a smartphone – IP67 Rating •1Ghz dual core processor gives consumers super fast performance •Launching on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradeable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) •Available in black, white and yellow colours
|
| BlackBerry Curve 9310 / 9320 turns up at FCC, fails to keep a low profile Posted: 30 May 2012 01:43 AM PDT FCC docs can, from time to time, turn up some welcome device surprises. Not so in this recent RIM filing, as we're treated to yet another in a long line of leaks for the company's Curve 9310 / 9320. The BB OS 7.1 handset, bearing the FCC IDs L6AREY20CW and L6ARFD30CW, has already made several appearances around the globe, preparing for a low-end market berth in Australia, India, Vietnam and the UK. So, aside from RF testing data indicating WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth radios, our familiarity with the phone's specs come from its prior in-the-wild jaunts. Should a single-core processor, 512MB RAM, 3.2-megapixel camera and hardware QWERTY tickle your mobile fancy, then by all means click on the source below to fill your cup of this U.S. pre-release federal formality. |
| BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 beta due soon? Posted: 30 May 2012 01:20 AM PDT PlayBook product manager Michael Clewley has tweeted that users can soon expect to get hold of (beta) version 2.1 of its operating system at the "end of May." Given that it's the 30th now, the company has less than two days to ensure Mr. Clewley doesn't break his promise -- after all, tweets are as good as legally binding contracts. It'll arrive on your slate the same way that version 2.0 did; simply sign up online and it'll be pushed out as soon as its ready. |
| PSA: Samsung's Galaxy S III is out in the UK today! Posted: 30 May 2012 01:00 AM PDT If you're European, or you pre-ordered Samsung's Galaxy S III, then you're already registering for that extra Dropbox space, playing with Flipboard or clutching your Olympics tickets. For everyone else, today's the day you can wander down to your local store and buy the flagship handset in the flesh. No-one's certain if you'll be able to grab the handset in Pebble Blue on launch day, so best make sure that you really want the 16GB marble white edition, lest you're disappointed when you arrive in town. |
| Customs stops delaying HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE devices after 'review' Posted: 30 May 2012 12:28 AM PDT HTC-branded crates have been trickling through customs for ten days already, following a total clamp-down earlier in May, but it's only now that they're able to pass through without lengthy extra checks. The manufacturer says it has "completed the review process with US Customs" and that it is "confident that we will soon be able to meet the demand for our products." That obviously raises the question as to why the HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE devices were held up in the first place. The ITC had earlier ruled that HTC infringed on an Apple patent about data detection, concerning a handset's ability to recognize and move around personal data, for example between the contact entry and the calendar, and it had given HTC until April to remove that feature. HTC agreed to that, but it appears customs officials initially needed to check every box to ensure that products arriving in the US were of the compliant type. Meanwhile, the LTE part of the EVO 4G is still waiting for its luggage. |
| Open source mini sub appeals to our inner Steve Zissou Posted: 29 May 2012 11:52 PM PDT Quadrocopters haven't exactly opened the skies for DIY exploration so much as they have for acrobatic feats, but the OpenROV project is hoping to make the briny depths friendlier for aspiring explorers and educators alike. The open source rover, spearheaded by NASA engineer and researcher Eric Stackpole, sinks to depths of up to 300 feet (100 meters), runs on eight C-cell batteries for approximately 1.5 hours and can clip by at three feet (one meter) per second. Within the laser-cut acrylic frame, a sealed cylinder houses a BeagleBone, HD webcam and LED lights. This all weighs in at 5.5 pounds and is piloted using a web browser and video feed. The footage is then piped up to a laptop that tethers the vehicle to the shore. Pre-orders for OpenROV 2.3 kits will be taken through Kickstarter later this summer at $750 apiece, though there are plans to sell fully assembled units. For now, explorers can register their interest at the link below and impatient Jacques Cousteaus will be pleased to know that all files necessary to build version 2.2 are available to download now. |
| ASUS MeMO 370T 7-inch tablet clears the FCC, leaves no trace of Ice Cream or Jelly behind Posted: 29 May 2012 11:28 PM PDT The 7-inch ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T we saw in early prototype form during CES just passed through the FCC. It's still only showing WiFi radios with no trace of a cellular connection, although if it's going to be the $249 standard bearer NVIDIA and ASUS were so excited about, that's to be expected. A juicier rumor that has surfaced in the intervening period however, suggests this device will actually be released as a Google Nexus 7-inch tablet (or just sold from a Google store), and could even feature the next version of Android, codenamed Jelly Bean. It could also sell for as low as $149, although the cheaper reworked version might swap out the Tegra processor for one from Qualcomm. We didn't spot anything in the filings to back that up, but you can paw through the PDFs yourself at the link below, or just get an idea of what it looks like in non-line drawn form with our gallery of pics from CES 2012. |
| Insert Coin: ZIP-Shooter lets you dolly around or track straight (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 11:00 PM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. If you're tired of shaky-vision in your films but don't have Spielbergian budgets, the ZIP-Shooter might be your secret weapon. By manipulating the wheels, you can track your DSLR, iPhone or other video cam in a straight line or around a bend, and use it as a tabletop, low or even worm-vision underslung dolly. With a 20-pound max weight limit, it'll handle most DSLR and lens combos, and you could even squeak on a light Red Scarlet package, while still collapsing it into a camera bag after usage. ZIP-Shooter is underway with $1,203 so far and a goal of $25,000 -- to see if you'd like to pledge $350 to get one, truck past the break and check the video.
Previous Project Update: With the Kickstarter clock showing 59 days left, the Twig iPhone cable has $3,169 pledged toward its $50,000 target. |
| Oh, the places you'll go... with this shoulder-mounted telepresence robot (video) Posted: 29 May 2012 10:25 PM PDT In what's likely to be good news for mothers that just can't seem to cut the cord, a team of Japanese engineers from Yamagata University have crafted a tiny telepresence robot that mounts to your shoulder. Part of this year's IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, the unsettling cyborg companion, dubbed MH-2 for miniature humanoid, is designed to act like a virtual chaperon or comrade, all depending on the person remotely piloting it. Using a combination of flexible joints, the wee avatar can somewhat mimic its users movements, even going so far as to simulate breathing. At the moment, the tech's not really ready for primetime, seeing as how the backpack required to power this creation contains about 22 servos -- not exactly the most portable of inventions. Still, as with all things cybernetic, this project will only evolve in time, growing more efficient, lightweight and effective at transporting your family and friends wherever you may roam, whether you like it or not. Skip past the break for some en vivo video action.
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Engadget News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment